Canal-lock.



Patented July 15, 1913.

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C. E. GILLETTE.

CANAL LOCK. v APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 1e, 190s, RBNEWBD JULY 1a, 1911 1,067,242.

C. E. GILLETTE.

CANAL LUCK. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 16, 190e. RBNBWBD JULY 1a, 1911.

1,067,242. Patented July 15, 191s.

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CASSIUS E. GILLETTE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CANAL-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July Y15, 1913.

Application filed Tune 16, 1908, Serial No. 438,697. Renewed July 13, 17911. Serial No. 638,395.

To all w/wm if may concern: y

Be it known that I, CAssIUs E. GILLETTE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Canal- Loeks, of lwhich the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My present invention relates to canal locks and has for its objects the provision of a canal lock structure in which the gate at the lock entrance and the operating mechanism for the gate are so constructed and arranged that the gate may be readily moved into and out of the position in which it closes the canal lock entrance, regardless of the weight of the gate; and in which the gate and its operating mechanism require a minimum of skill on the part of the operator, and in which the operating parts are comparatively few, simple and durable and require little adjustment or repair.

One important feature of the invention consists in the arrangements made whereby I am enabled to use a vertically movable lock gate.

Another important feat-ure of the invention consists in the arrangement which I have devised of a bridge over the lower entrance of the canal. which bridge fo-rms a part of the end wall of the lock and permits a simplification of the corresponding gate and operating connection.

Other important features of the invention consist in the arrangements which I have provided for counterbalancing and operating the gate.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described one of the forms in which the invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings: Figure l is a sectional elevation of the lower end of a canal lock equipped with my invention, the section being taken parallel to the length of the lock. Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right. angles `tank E3.

are coaxial. 'members may all be similar to each other to Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the locking device for the gate.

In the drawings: A represents the canal lock proper, B the lower entrance to the lock, and C the vertically sliding gate at the lower' end of the lock. This gate may be made of any suitable construction. A bridge D extends over the gateway and in the construction sh own this bridge is in the form of a masonry arch which is carried by the masonry walls D1, which form the side walls of the lock entrance. This bridge forms a portion of the end wall o-f the lock proper. The upper surface of the bridge D is inclined downward from the lock edge of the bridge and is provided with track rails D2 to form a trackway for a counterweight E for the gate. The counterweight E is in the form of a carriage provided with wheels E1 running on the track rails D2. The counterweight E comprises a body portion E2 of heavy material7 as iron, and a water The gate is connected to the counterweight by iiexible members F which may be either ropes or chains and which run over suitable guides supported by the bridge D at its lock edge. As shown these guides are formed by pulleys F1 secured to a shaft F4, journaled in brackets F2 suitably anchored in place on the bridge. It will be observed that the upper edge of the counterweight is parallel to the upper edge of the gate and that the pulleys are all alike and In consequence the fiexiblc and of equal length so that the load carried by them is equally divided between the vari.- ous members. To adjust the lengths each flexible member includes a turnbuckle F3 by which the desired uniformity of length may be obtained.

By preference the parts are so arranged that when the counterweight is at its upper position with the gate in place to close the gateway the tank is below the upper water level A1 of the canal at the lock so that water may run into the tank by gravity from thev lock. By preference also the counterweight when the tank is empty is insufficient to counterbalance the gate, while when the tank is full it is sufficient to counterbalance and move the gate. In consequence, by running water into or out of the tank the gate may be moved and, preferably7 the tank is of auch capacity that a certain regu lation of the rate of movement of the gate can be had by regulating the amount of water in the tank. Any suitable means may be provided for running water into and out of the tank. In the particular form disclosed gutters D3 are formed in the inclined upper surface of the bridge which lead at the lower end of this surface into pipes D4 which discharge into the lower level of' the canali Valve controlled pipe connections E4 extend from the tank into position to discharge into these gutters. To one end of the tank is secured a trough E5. A valved pipe connection EG having its lower end arranged to discharge into the trough E5, serves to convey water by gravity from the upper level of the canal into the tank E to increase the weight of the counterweight when the canal gate is to be lifted.

To lock the gate in any position desired a drum G is secured to the shaft F4 and about this shaft is secured a friction band G1 the ends of which may be drawn together with a varying force by the bolt G2 passing through the bridge abutment or bracket G3.

It will be observed that the invention described is characterized by its extreme simplicity and reliability in construction and operation and by the ease with which the gate may be operated and by the small likelihood of parts getting out of order.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a canal lock, in combination a bridge extending over the lower entrance ,to the lock and forming a portion of the end wall thereof, a gate and means for moving said gate vertically to open and close said lock entrance.

2. In a canal, the combination with the walls forming the lower entrance to the lock ot' a bridge extending over said lower entrance and forming a part of the end wall of the lock.

3. In a canal lock, the combination with the walls forming the lower entrance to the lock, of a bridge extending over said lower entrance, a vertically movable gate for opening. and closing said entrance, a counterweight for said gate, flexible connections between said gate and counterweight, and guides provided on said bridge for said counterweight.

4. In a canal lock, the combination of a vertically movable gate, an inclined track way, a counterweight including a water tank running on said track way, flexible members connecting said gate and counterweight, said members and said track way being so arranged and said members being of such length that when the counterweight is in its upper position the tank is below the upper water level of the canal at the lock.

5. In a canal lock, the combination of a bridge extending over the lower entrance to the lock and formed with an inclined trackway, guides mounted on said bridge above the trackway, a vertically movable gate, an

elongated counter-weight ruiming on said trackway, flexible members running over said guides and connecting said gate and counterweight.

6. In a canal lock, the combination of a bridge extending over the lower entrance to the lock and formed with an inclined trackway, guides mounted on said bridge above said trackway, a vertically movable gate, an elongated counterweight running on said trackway, flexible members running over said guides and connecting said gate and counterweight, said members being of substantially equal lengths, and means for adjusting the lengths of said members.

CAS SIUS E. GILLETTE.

lVitnesses:

KATHERINE M. COLLINS, ELIZABETH LIGGETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissonereof Patents, Washington, D. C. 

